I got a Creeper in my trap...and that's a bad thing

So I made a simple water trap in Minecraft, but for some reason made it right next to my furnace and crafting table. I trapped a creeper in it, but now I realize I can't kill it without getting hurt because:

  1. I have no snowballs or arrows to fire.
  2. I can't set it on fire with flint and steel.
  3. It is below me so it is hard to hit it with my sword. How do I kill it? Here is a picture:

this was a bad idea


The easiest way to deal with situations like this is usually to not kill the creeper at all. Just despawn it.

From that wiki link:

  • A mob will immediately despawn if ever there is no player within 128 blocks of it. Note that this appears to be a sphere, not a cylinder from map top to bottom.
  • A mob that has had no player within 32 blocks of it for more than 30 seconds has a 1 in 800 chance of despawning on each game tick (1/20th of a second). Therefore, the half-life of monsters not within 32 blocks of a player is 27.73 seconds, after the initial 30 seconds have elapsed.

So, either wander a short distance away and wait, or wander a longer distance away, and the creeper will simply cease to exist, making the area safe again, at least until something else spawns in.


Based on the screenshot, you've got sufficent armor to survive a creeper blast. Hit the bugger with your sword until he either blows up or dies. Since he's in water, he won't be able to do any environmental damage.

Alternatively, grab a bow/arrow if you can scavenge one. Suffocation with sand or gravel also functions. These methods will allow you to collect exp and that gunpowder as well.


Use sand to kill it!

Even if it blew up...it wouldn't be the end of the world. It's only a crafting table and furnace, just be glad it's not a chest.